Chapter 1113: Everyone Gets One

After leaving the small bamboo grove, Ye Chen descended from the Ninth Heaven and headed to the Zhuque Hall on the eighth level of Youdu. Like a wild beast, he withdrew fifty million yuan shi in one breath, startling Ruotian Zhuque so much she nearly lost her footing. With the imperial order in hand, he certainly didn't hold back.

However, Ye Chen wasn't using the imperial order to line his own pockets; he had a greater purpose in mind.

That day, he traveled down from the eighth level of Youdu, visiting one shop and stall after another, sweeping up materials for alchemy. This included spiritual herbs needed for refining seven-pattern ling dan, all of which were shockingly expensive.

It wasn't until nightfall that he returned to the Danfu Lingshan.

The alchemists were still in the Wandan Baodian, none of them having made a move yet, all deeply immersed in comprehending alchemy through the alchemy intent realm.

Ye Chen wasn't idle either. He took out the ling dan he had bought one by one, using his Xianlun Eye to copy the soul imprints within the pills, then imprinted them onto jade slips. He also infused his own alchemy expertise into them.

It had to be said, this method of his was far more practical than just providing alchemy recipes. When given to the alchemists for study, it was like he was personally guiding them step by step.

It wasn't until the morning of the third day that he finished imprinting the soul marks from all the ling dan.

As daylight fully broke, the alchemists in the Wandan Baodian emerged one by one, all reluctant to leave.

What could be seen was that everyone wore expressions of joyful surprise.

Over these three days, each of them had found their own opportunities in the Wandan Baodian, gaining a deeper understanding of the true essence of alchemy. If not for the three-day limit, most of them would have stayed inside for ten days or half a month.

"This is the second great gift I'm giving you all."

As soon as they stepped out, the alchemists saw Ye Chen standing in the great hall.

"Another great gift?"

Hearing those words, the alchemists' eyes lit up one after another. They still remembered the first great gift vividly—it was true fire, a tremendous boon for any alchemist.

"One for each of you. Help yourselves."

Ye Chen pointed to the mountain of storage bags piled in the hall.

"Thank you, mansion lord."

The alchemists eagerly stepped forward, though they did so in an orderly manner.

"What's this?"

Someone exclaimed in surprise, looking at the heaps of jade slips in the storage bags.

"And there are alchemy materials too."

"Heavens, is that the Bathfire Ice Lotus?"

"So many of them."

Shocks echoed continuously through the great hall, leaving the alchemists stunned one after another. Inside the storage bags, besides the piles of jade slips, there were countless alchemy materials.

"The jade slips contain alchemy intent realms, from three-pattern to six-pattern. Merge them into your divine sea and comprehend them on your own."

Ye Chen spoke up.

"As for the alchemy materials, the Danfu will provide them unconditionally."

"Did I hear that right?"

The alchemists all felt dizzy with excitement.

"From today onward, any third-tier alchemist who advances to fourth-tier will be rewarded with ten thousand yuan shi; fourth-tier to fifth-tier, thirty thousand yuan shi; fifth-tier to sixth-tier, fifty thousand yuan shi. As for those who are already fourth-tier, fifth-tier, or sixth-tier alchemists, you can still claim the rewards."

"And rewards too."

The alchemists were thrilled beyond words. With money came motivation, and many of them began rolling up their sleeves, eager to get to work.

"I need to see results from all of you in a short time."

Ye Chen said leisurely.

"I can support you for a lifetime, but the glory and honor must be won by your own efforts."

"Thank you, mansion lord."

Nearly ten thousand people knelt on one knee collectively. Ye Chen's trust and generosity moved them deeply. Would the Lingdan Pavilion ever cultivate them with such boldness? Of course not. This great gift and Ye Chen's words ignited their fighting spirit.

"Go on!"

Ye Chen smiled faintly.

"Alchemy!"

The alchemists poured out of the great hall, full of energy.

"Yue Shan, Yue Hai, Yue Zhen, Yue Jin, Yue Mo, one day, the 'waste' you speak of will leave you in shock."

Ye Chen chuckled.

In fact, his decision proved effective. At the very least, he had sparked the alchemists' ambition. With the determination to reach the pinnacle, what did they have to fear from thorns on the path ahead? They would become a formidable force.

Smiling again, he turned and left the great hall, stepping into the sky and ascending to the peak of Danfu Lingshan.

Pausing briefly, Ye Chen waved his hand to produce a alchemy furnace, along with over a thousand types of alchemy materials.

Taking a deep breath, he ignited immortal fire to nurture the furnace. Today, he would attempt to refine a seven-pattern ling dan. Honestly, he wasn't confident he could succeed—seven-pattern ling dan was on a completely different level from six-pattern.

From then on, the entire Danfu Lingshan fell into a profound silence. The alchemists were comprehending alchemy techniques, and many had already started refining pills, while Ye Chen at the peak was diligently working on his own alchemy.

Everything proceeded smoothly and methodically.

Meanwhile, outside Youdu, people continued to come and go, all with powerful auras, scrutinizing everyone entering Youdu.

In the first level of Youdu, Yue Shan, Yue Hai, and Yue Zhen—along with their group of six—each hid in various pavilions, cloaked in black robes. Though they were fellow disciples, they weren't united. They were waiting there, each hoping their own people would be the first to find Ye Chen.

Not just them, the eight imperial princes were also in the first level of Youdu, hidden cleverly, with the same calculations in mind as Yue Zhen and the others.

However, the scene they imagined of capturing Ye Chen never materialized. They had sent out many people, but most returned empty-handed. They hadn't even caught a glimpse of Ye Chen, let alone his shadow.

Search! Keep searching!

Cold orders kept being issued, and more people flew out of Youdu. At that moment, no one was paying attention to the Danfu anymore—all they could think about was Ye Chen.

Bang!

While things were bustling outside Youdu, a loud boom echoed from the peak of Danfu Lingshan, with ashes flying out of the alchemy furnace.

Ye Chen's face was pale, and fresh blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth. He had tried refining it over a dozen times, but each attempt ended in failure.

Ye Chen understood clearly that it wasn't his alchemy skills that were lacking—it was his yuan shen level, which was too low. Seven-pattern ling dan required a much higher yuan shen level, at least that of an imperial realm cultivator.

It really couldn't be rushed!

Ye Chen shook his head helplessly and stopped trying to refine the seven-pattern ling dan. He pulled out a wine flask and sat down on the peak, gazing up at the hazy starry sky. Each twinkling star seemed like a familiar face.

Da Chu, a hundred years have passed—are you still safe?

As he spoke, Ye Chen tilted his head back and took a swig of wine, his expression weary and world-weary. Perhaps only in the dead of night did he reveal his true self, staring blankly at the vast starry sky.

Like him, the little eagle on his shoulder also gazed at the stars, its eagle eyes filled with nostalgia.

A gentle breeze blew, and Nianwei arrived. Seeing Ye Chen looking at the stars, she lightly bit her lip and sat down beside him, resting her cheek gently on his shoulder as she murmured,

"Holy Lord, I miss home."

"I do too."

Ye Chen's voice was hoarse, his eyes blurred.

"I do too."

Another voice rang out—it was Xie Yun, cloaked in black robes, who had arrived. He had emerged from seclusion, fully integrating the Zhuque bloodline. Though his cultivation was far from its former peak, reaching it again was just a matter of time.

"A hundred years have slipped away like a fleeting dream."

Ye Chen smiled and handed the wine flask to Xie Yun.

"I wonder if the stars here are the same as in Da Chu."

Xie Yun sat down, tears shimmering in his eyes.

"I don't know if the people of Da Chu are gazing at these stars right now, asking the same questions we are."

Nianwei's eyes were misty with tears, which condensed into frost under the pure moonlight.

"Drink up."

Ye Chen said with a tearful smile, handing wine flasks to Nianwei and the little eagle.

"Drink."

Xie Yun and Nianwei each took a flask, and even the little eagle extended its claw. What they drank was wine, but what flowed down was hot tears. They spoke of the past and thought of those from back then.

The moonlight remained as pure as ever, bathing the entire Zhuque Star.

In the Ninth Heaven of Youdu, Ruotian Zhuque quietly overlooked everything, as if she could see through the five layers of heaven to the peak of Danfu Lingshan, and to Ye Chen and the others there.

What kind of scene was that? Ruotian Zhuque couldn't figure it out. She couldn't understand what secrets or stories those four little figures held. Watching them cry, her heart stirred with emotion.